Chapter 200

Lu Xueqi made hand seals, the Heavenly Abyss blue light blazed forth, shooting up to the heavens, meeting the fire dragon sword qi that bore a heroic might.

The spectators below had thought that relying on the might of the Heavenly Abyss Divine Sword they could easily shatter the sword qi, but instead they were blown away by the sword qi.

Senior Sister Lu, the Heavenly Abyss sword not yet drawn cannot let you win this match.

The yellow-clothed youth turned his sword, and the fire dragon sword qi struck straight at Lu Xueqi.

With a clang, the Heavenly Abyss Divine Sword left its sheath, bursting forth a myriad-zhang azure sword qi that fiercely slashed at the fire dragon sword qi.

The fire dragon sword qi instantly scattered, and Zhuang Buran swung his sword in follow-through:

What a fine divine sword, this is a rainbow bridge spanning the heavens!

Endless flames appeared in midair, transforming into countless bridge-shaped sword qi that surged toward the extremely brilliant azure sword qi.

Boom!

The moves exchanged by both sides caused the extremely hard timber on the arena to scatter like paper scraps.

Interesting, I wonder if Senior Sister Lu can take another of my strikes—this is the Fire Dance Whirlwind!

The yellow-clothed youth lightly trembled his sword, stirring up surging sword qi, giving rise to an incredibly violent crimson whirlwind.

Like a tornado connecting heaven and earth, it swept up the clouds and seas across the sky; the people below facing the hurricane's force wore strange expressions, discovering they felt no breeze at all.

Junior Brother Tian, your disciple's swordsmanship has reached such profundity that he has attained the level of effortless release and control, making the heavy seem light.

Daoxuan gazed at the raging tornado sweeping wind and clouds, his expression shaken, and said:

He has also forged a fire-element immortal sword just like yours; the lineage of Dazhu Peak has successors who not only created their own Dao but also their own sword arts—truly a heaven-sent genius.

Tian Buyi smirked:

Sect Leader Senior Brother, you overpraise me; I must still train diligently to truly become a great talent.

Lu Xueqi gripped the hand seals with both hands, fully controlling the Heavenly Abyss Divine Sword; as the blue light grew brighter and its might greater, she stubbornly withstood the force of the wind-fire tornado.

After a while.

On the high platform, the wind ceased and the fire died, the blue light dimmed; yet one saw the yellow-clothed youth with one hand behind his back and the other gripping his sword, while Lu Xueqi's face turned pale as she leaned on her sword, half-kneeling.

Senior Sister Lu, do you wish to continue?

Lu Xueqi's clear eyes narrowed slightly as she slowly rose to her feet, speaking each word deliberately:

Since you have unleashed three swords, I shall naturally return one to you.

Upon hearing this, the Water Moon Grand Master below sprang to her feet, but before she could speak to stop him, Lu Xueqi already held her sword aloft, her feet treading the seven-star positions, she strode seven steps in midair, her long sword suddenly thrusting heavenward; her jade complexion lost all color in an instant as she chanted the incantation:

Nine Heavens Mystic Cavern, transform into divine thunder!

Majestic heavenly might, draw it with the sword!

In a moment, the heavens changed; the clear myriad-mile sky suddenly was overwhelmed by dark clouds, accompanied by thunderous roars and flashing lightning.

Alas, with your cultivation you can barely manage to execute the Divine Sword Controlling Thunder True Scripture; a single misstep could bring catastrophe upon your head.

The yellow-clothed youth gave a soft sigh:

Senior Sister Lu, you are truly a warrior!

Having said that, his long sword trembled forth a gentle and lovely sword intent, suddenly drawing the myriad blossoms of the peaks to gather; the vast cloud-sea plaza seemed to turn into a sea of flowers.

Those present felt the sword intent like cooking smoke, like pure gentle moonlight, and the gorgeous flower sea that stole their hearts, unable to help but become deeply intoxicated by it.

At this moment, Lu Xueqi's delicate brows furrowed; she realized that drawing heavenly thunder with her sword required her to withstand a force like raging, surging waves, and were it not for this force continually being absorbed by her Heavenly Abyss Divine Sword, she would have already suffered backlash from the sword art.

Even so, her body shuddered; her originally snow-white jade complexion instantly flushed crimson, and with a 'wah' she spat out a mouthful of fresh blood.

Courage has three realms: the fisherman who follows the waves, unafraid of the perils of flood dragons; the hunter who ventures into the wild, fearless of the might of rhinos and tigers—this is the first realm.

The martyr facing the blade, regarding death as a return home, is the second realm; the sage who knows his fate, treads danger without changing countenance, is the third realm.

Yet the courage of fisher and hunter can conquer things but not oneself; the martyr's courage can conquer oneself but not heaven; only the sage's courage, being one with heaven, can remain unharmed.

The yellow-clothed youth spoke in a calm voice:

Senior Sister Lu, displaying the martyr's courage, regarding death as a return home, has made me look anew; yet it is because many in the world admire sword qi like a rainbow, few comprehend the principle of still water as empty.

This sword will teach you what is meant by great courage appearing as timidity, the utmost strength without edge.

As he raised his sword, the blade burst forth with moonlight brilliant to the extreme; the flower sea's sword intent instantly condensed into a beam that struck straight at where Lu Xueqi stood.

When the Divine Sword Controlling Thunder True Scripture is cast, it can naturally lay down an invisible shield around the caster via the divine weapon, usable both for self-protection and for resisting enemies.

Yet now this invisible shield, under the yellow-clothed youth's sword qi, melts away like spring wind turning to fine rain.

Though Lu Xueqi had been holding on, even as she was about to complete the Divine Sword Controlling Thunder True Scripture, the countless lightning bolts gathered into heavenly thunder that could not only slay foes but also plunge her into a deadly predicament.

As she fell into despair, preparing to calmly face her own death, she discovered a gentle and lovely sword intent like sweet rain moistening the heart-field, which instantly calmed the surging qi and blood within her body.

All the tremendous force borne by drawing heavenly thunder with the sword then poured out in a single surge.

To those outside the arena, it appeared that after the yellow-clothed youth struck with a sword beautiful beyond the mortal world, he instantly melted away the invisible shield surrounding Lu Xueqi.

The bundle of sword qi suddenly turned and shot straight at the massive, swirling vortex of thick heavenly thunder in the sky.

With a tremendous roar from the dark clouds, the heavenly phenomena returned to calm, reverting to a scene of blue sky and white clouds.

Yet one saw that Lu Xueqi's person retained a few flower petals; even though she had exhausted herself to the point of utter depletion, she did not fall over, but instead collapsed heavily onto the platform.

And as Lu Xueqi lightly drifted down to the ground, a wooden sword lay horizontally beside her exquisitely carved jade neck.

Senior Sister Lu, you have lost.

The yellow-clothed youth said unhurriedly:

Lu Xueqi stared, then opened her mouth:

What was the name of that sword you just struck?

Moon Evening Flower Morning.

Is this another of your own creations?

Obtained in a dream, it should not be counted as a self-creation." The yellow-clothed youth sheathed his sword and stood, giving a gentle reminder:

Senior Sister Wen Min, Senior Sister Lu has overexerted herself; she may not be able to walk.

Uh

Wen Min heard the shout, just now came to his senses from the already-ended duel, hastily jumped onto the stage, and helped Lu Xueqi down.

Immediately, everyone came to their senses; the noisy clamor erupting all around was like a boiling pot, chaotic and incessant.

Seeing that his own disciple was unharmed, Shuiyue Dashi couldn't help but say to Su Ru and Yan Yuese:

Great Bamboo Peak has finally produced an exceptionally outstanding top-tier talent; his conduct and demeanor are nothing short of the best choice.

Senior Sister, you overpraised; you don't know his privately mischievous and weird side that can make people's heads swell with anger, but he's improved a lot over the past year or two. Su Ru replied with a beaming smile.

Junior Brother Tian, it seems I still underestimated your little disciple; he actually managed to create such an extraordinary sword art—such talent and comprehension, I'm afraid there's no one who can match him in our sect.

True Person Daoxuan looked with great admiration at the yellow-clad youth gradually stepping down from the stage.

Five years time, he actually cultivated to the ninth level of the Jade Clarity Realm; even if Qingye Zushi were reborn, it would be no more than this.

Tian Buyi laughed heartily, not intending to say that his disciple had already broken through to the Shangqing Realm, and spoke lightly:

What kind of existence is Qingye Zushi; his talent at most can only be considered the first person under our sect's Qingye Zushi.

Back then, it was solely thanks to the Sect Leader Senior Brother's discerning eye like a torch, seeing that Xiao Fan had affinity with our lineage, and moreover a deep master-disciple bond with me; otherwise, we might have missed him.

True Person Daoxuan: "."

(End of chapter)